What’s that rhythmic tap tapping sound?
It’s the dancers of the Maguire Academy in Edmond, Oklahoma performing an Irish hard shoe dance routine! There’s nine of them all clad in black but these dancers are so good, it sounds like there’s only one pair of shoes dancing.
The dance is so graceful and yet powerful. Dancers move in an up and down motion, with powerful strikes on the ground but at the same time moving so smoothly to the music.
You can see the discipline and talent required but also present is that strong traditional ties of the movements. It’s been the same for many years but the culture has spread all over the world.
Aspiring dancers have left comments like,
“These people are so good! I hopefully will get to their level.”
and this one,
“I love some talented Irish dancers!”
Imagine the strength and skill needed to learn this dance.
You need strong feet too.
This is hard shoe dancing and is very much similar to tap dancing or clogging. The difference is the shoes are different and the steps are all their own. And notice how they keep their arms to their sides the whole time?
Sounds like a marching army with drummers in front accompanied by claps of thunder. It’s got that powerful rhythmic charge to it and the sequence has your ears perked for the next set of taps.
Those hard shoes are styled like Oxfords except with a toe piece similar to a tap shoe with an extended heel. That’s what allows them to produce those signature tapping sounds.
Irish dance has grown in popularity thanks in part to Riverdance and their iconic 1994 performance.
It has fostered a sense of national and cultural pride as well as camaraderie among the Irish. It can be said that Jean Butler and Michael Flatley’s groundbreaking dance helped open the eyes of the world to Irish dancing.
Look at these dancers. They look really young! So for kids their age to take up Irish hard shoe dancing as an interest means that there really is a growing community that loves the dance.
It’s also very obvious that these young men and women have put in a lot of time and effort in practice. They move together like a well oiled machine, that catchy tap tapping resonating throughout that stage.
Now as to why Irish dancers keep their arms to their sides?
Well it is believed that during those times, there was barely any space to move around in. Small pubs, barns, and rooms could be reasons as to why the dances were only a vertical springing motion. Can’t hit anyone around!
These guys and girls are doing their own mini version of Riverdance. 1994 brought Irish dancing to the world stage, but it’s the young dancers like these that are responsible for making sure the dance stays in the modern world.
Dancers today are given so much more room to dance. They are encouraged to make full use of the stage, hence big groups like the Maguire Academy being able to dance in a long line. Would you listen to that applause!
Can you keep up with their fancy footwork? Check out this traditional dance below!
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